Rotor brake



Feb. 2, 954

W. A. HELSTEN ROTOR BRAKE Filed Aug. 25, ,1949

Patented Feb. 2, 1954 ROTOR BRAKE Wesley A. Helsten, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New `lersey Application August 25, 1949, Serial No. 112,394

(Cl. 18S-59) 14 Claims.

This invention relates to brakes and more particularly to off-wheel or rotor brakes wherein disks are supported to rotate with a wheel and 'axle assembly, each disk being engaged by stators disposed at opposite sides thereof for decelerating the assembly.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel, compact and eiiicient operating mechanism for applying and releasing the stators with respect to the disk.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a system of interconnected levers operated by a single source of power Iand carrying friction means at opposite sides or" each disk for braking cooperation therewith.

The invention contemplates the provision of brake rigging for operating the stators at opposite sides of a brake disk, comprising interconnected live and dead levers disposed at opposite sides of the disk and connected to respective stators, the linkage being actuated by a single piston connected to the live lever.

Another object is to devise a novel, simple support for the brake rigging.

A further object is to provide wherein a plurality of disks are mounted on a wheel 'and axle assembly and wherein the brakes associated with respective disks are actuated by a common power device.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the specication and the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of one corner of a railway car truck incorporating the invention. 1t will be understood that the arrangement is the same at opposite sides and opposite ends of the truck.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional View on line 4-4 of Figure 1. y

In each of said figures certain details may be omitted where they are more clearly shown in other views.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the truck structure generally designated 2 is of conventional type and comprises a side rail 4 at each side thereof, the side rails being interconnected at each side of the transverse center line of the truck by a transom 6 affording support for a bolster member (not shown) upon which may be mounted a car body, as will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art. The juncture bea brake system tween each side rail 4 and transom G is reinforced by an integral generally horizontal gusset 8 extending therebetween.

Each end of the truck structure is supported by a wheel and axle assembly i including an axle l2 with a wheel i4 adjacent each end thereof. Each wheel and axle assembly carries a brake disk or rotor i@ adjacent each end thereof preferably connected to the inboard side of each wheel in conventional manner.

A brake support i3 is mounted on the truck structure Iadjacent each disk and comprises a rear wall 2li seated against an outer vertical wall 22 of the adjacent transom 6. The support I8 also includes spaced substantially horizontal top and bottom Walls 24 and 26 connected to the top and bottom edges of wall and extending between the transom 6 and the associated disk I6. The bottom wall is formed with `a central opening to lighten the structure and the top wall is provided with upstanding gussets 32, 32 connected to wall 22 preferably as by welding at 34, 34. The top and bottom walls 24 and 26 and rear wall 20 of the support may 'also be connected to wall 22 of the transom as by welding at 36, 36.

The support carries a pair of substantially horizontal oppositely arranged live and dead truck levers 38 and 40 at opposite sides thereof extending at the inboard and outboard sides of disk i6, respectively. Each lever 38 and 40 is pivotally connected at its outer end by means of la bolt 42 to a stator or brake head assembly generally designated 44, said assembly comprising a brake head 46 to which is attached a shoe 48 adapted for braking engagement with a radial braking face 50 on the adjacent side of the rotor I6.

The lever 38 is formed intermediate its ends on the top and bottom sides thereof with bosses 52, 52 in guided engagement with top and bottom bosses 54, 54 on the inner sides of the top 'and bottom Walls along substantially horizontal surfaces 56, 56, said bosses 54 being disposed adjacent the outer ends of the top and bottom Walls of the support. The outer side of the lever 38 is formed with a boss 58 adjacent bosses 52, 52, said boss 58 being provided with a socket 60 adapted to receive a nose 62 formed centrally on 'a piston 64 extending from one end of a cylinder 66 of the power device generally indicated 68. The cylinder 66 extends transversely of the truck and is secured to the side wall 22 of the transom 6 by bolts 65 extending through brackets 'I0 and 12 on the side wall 22 of the transom and the cylinder, respectively. The inner side of lever 38 adjacent bosses 52 and 58 is formed with a spring seat 14 for one end of a compressed release spring I6 disposed between the top and bottom walls of the support and extending transversely of lever 38 in alignment with nose 62. The opposite end of the spring 16 seats against a substantially Vertical spring seat 'I8 on a generally vertical tie web 80 extending between the top and bottom walls of the support and formed integral therewith. The spring is positioned at one end on the seat i4 by a spring-positioning lug 82 formed centrally on the seat 'It and at its other end by a lug 84 on the spring seat 13. The spring is eiective to constantly urge the lever 38 in a horizontal direction against the nose 62 of the piston 64 to maintain the same in constant engagement and to disengage the brake head lassembly 44 on the lever 38 from the brake rotor when the power device is inactivated. y

The lever 38 extends longitudinally `of the support to a point adjacent the vertical wall 20 thereof and is pivot-ally connected by a pin at its inner end as vat 86 to one of the ends of spaced top and bottom compression bars or links 88, '88, said links or iloating vlinkage seating against the top and bottom sides of said leverr33 and "exten-'ding substantially parallel to wall 20 in spaced relation thereto longitudinally of the support. The other ends of the links 38 receive the inner end of the dead lever 40 therebetween and are connected thereto by a substantially -vertical pin 80 'extending therethrough. It will be noted that the links are slidably guided and that the `pins are maintained in assembled relationship with the levers 'and the links by top and bottom bosses 92, 92 formed on the inner .sides of the top `and bottom walls of the support.

The outer side ofthe inner end of lever do is Vformed with a spring seat 94 affording ra seat for 'one end of a substantially horizontal spring 96 extending transversely of lever d0, said spring being 'seated 'at its opposite end against "a substantially vertical spr-ing seat 98 formed 'on an abutment member 100 connected prefer- -ably as by welding at 1022 to la substantially vertical gusset |013 extending `between the transom wall 252 and the undersideoflgussett 'and for-'med integral therewith. The :gusset -8 may be fadolitionally reinforced by a vertical gusset 106 connected thereto and to transom -wall -20. The 'lever Alill y'extends longitudinally of the support and is pivote'd intermediate its e'nds `adjacent the 1outer ends of the top and Abo'ttoin "wal-ls of -the'support vbyia bolt |508 extending through "said le'ver d0 and `said top Vand bottom vvalls 'The levei -40 fma'y be provided 'with top and bottom bosses H which {mayhav'e :guided engagement with the 'bosses 5l, 54 Von the top and bottom `Vwalls of fthe 'su'ppo'it. The louter ends of the top land bottoni walls lof the support may be zeor'niecte-d to a -`substan'i'fially vertical pla'te H2 fas by bolts -H"4. The plate may project above the top wall for guiding engagement withjguide members HB, lH6 secured to 'respective brake heads of the stators by the bolts 42, 42, said guide members being adapted to guide thessa-V tors with respect to the friction faces Si), 5i) on the rei-ated `fdisk is, as "described in a @pending n'ite/d vStates patent application 'le'd lin the name of Y"Carl E. Tack, Serial :Number 104,453, for `'Brake Rotor `on `July 113, 19`49. Rotation of the theads -nay `be controlled lby balancing means generally indicated A'H42 (Figure 4) and lmore particularly 'described `in United States "Patent Number 2,380j803 'for Brake ,SI-lead Balancing l:Nlfeai'ls'issued. on July 31,1945, tocl EfTa'ck.

It will be understood that the truck is substantially identical at opposite sides thereof and that the actuating or power device 68 and the brake systems are substantially the same at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the truck and that each power device 68 actuates two brake systems at opposite sides of the truck.

In operation, actuation of the power device $8 urges each piston 64 outwardly of the cylinder 66 horizontally toward the associated live lever 38. -As seen in Figure 1, the lever 38 is caused to move to the left toward the disk I6) thereby leorn'pife'ss'ing the Spring l' and applying the shoe 178 of the lbrake head assembly 4d carried thereby 'against the Vvassociated friction face 5i! of the rotor i6. The lever 38 is then caused to rotate about the pin 42 in a counterclockwise direction and 'to move the links 88 to the left, which in turn rotate the lever 40 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby v'cor'npressing the spring 96 and applying the shoe '48 of the brake lhead assembly 44 carried thereby against the associated face y5t of the rotor I6. It will be understood that the application of force against the brake heads is substantially equalized by the vlinks and that the shoes are applied substantially simultaneously against opposite sides of the brake disk. To release the brakes the `power device is inactivated by exhausting "the pressure .roni lcylinder 66, whereupon leach piston 64 'is .moved linto the cylinder by 'the associated lever 38 through v'the action of theispring 15s which causes the lever 3B to move to "the fright lFigfure l), thereby disengaging the shoe lof 'the brake lhead assembly 'im "on lei/'ei' '38 fi'rn the rotor. -Movement 'Of the lever 3B to the rght rxiS accompanied by movement o`f the `links 188 to the right which is accelerated by the expansion of .spring T95, land the lever 40 is caused to rotate 'in 'a Clockwise diietion, 'theiey dl'seniging "the Shoe Idi" fthe stator assembly carried by lever Ml `vfrom the 'related lfiie'tion face 50 fof 'the r'otor. Movement of levers 33 and 40 release limitedand rattling is eliminated `b`y abutment of the outer sid of the inner e'hd -f l1eveT3`8 as at W3 with 'a vertical 'wal `P29 @mig-tire T19 disposed at the ihbOa-id v"side of lthe brake support :frame and connected to the top and bottom wall's'' rand 26 cf fs'aid I'suigiport It will =be understood 4that the 5arrangernent 'not :only Auti-liz'es -a novelfoperating mechanism for the ibr'ake "head tassemblies but lalso that the operating mechanism at yeach 4side of the truck is vfoperatec'l b'y a 'common power device which `'is 'positioned therebetween. The -space vlin'iitatior-i's inherent 'in prior arrangements restricting the size `o'f the power 'device 'are favoided vand the arrangement utilizes a single piston toNactuate the whole 4brake ymechani'sm associated with each fdisk affording a simple and effective brake. Although Alevers i38 and elfo `are shown horizontal, they 'may 'fbe positioned at any angle.

-1. In a brake arrangement TLfor a "railway'car truck comprising a frame and a supporting wheel and axle assembly, Aa brake disk -carried by said asse'mbl'y,A substantially horizontal "live land dead levers disposed at opposite sides 4Vof vsaid `vdisk, `-`frition lrmeans carried by said Elevers jat one fdf their rends' for engagement with said ldisk, means L'pivotally interconnecting said lev'ers -at :their other fonds, -a slipprlt-'Stiiitilre ini'onted ion Vsaid iframe Land comprising spaced, substantiall-y'fhniiiz'orital, top fand bottom Twalls ireceivringv said levers therebetween, means on said walls and said live lever slidably supporting said live lever for movement transversely of said disk, pivot means connecting said dead lever intermediate its ends with said top and bottom walls of said support on an axis accommodating rotation of said dead lever transversely of said disk, power means mounted on said frame and including a piston acting transversely of said disk and operatively connected to said live lever in termediate its ends for moving said lever toward said disk and thereby rotating said dead lever through said connecting means in a direction applying the friction means carried by said dead lever against said disk, and resilient means operatively associated with each lever for moving the same in a direction releasing the friction means carried thereby from said disk.

2. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck comprising a frame with a transom and a wheel and axle assembly at one side of said transom, power means comprising a substantially horizontal cylinder mounted on said transom and extending at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the truck, a piston in each end of said cylinder, a support structure mounted on said transom adjacent each end thereof, a brake rotor carried by said wheel and axle assembly adjacent each support structure, a live lever disposed at each end of said power means between said rotors and slidably supported on the adjacent support for movement in a substantially horizontal plane toward and away from the adjacent rotor, each live lever having an operative connection intermediate its ends with the adjacent piston, dead levers disposed outboardly of said rotors and pivoted intermediate their ends to the respective support structures, friction means carried by said levers at one of the ends thereof for braking cooperation with respective rotors, and means operatively interconnecting adjacent live and dead levers at the other ends thereof.

3. In a rotor brake for a railway car truck, a support structure, a wheel and axle assembly carrying a brake disk, a substantially horizontal live lever at the inboard side of the disk slidably supported on said structure, a substantially horizontal dead lever at the opposite side of the disk pivoted intermediate its ends to said support, friction means carried by said levers at one end for braking cooperation with said disks, links pivotally connecting the other ends of said levers, power means disposed inboardly of said disk and comprising a cylinder with a horizontally acting piston having a nose extending into a socket in said live lever intermediate the ends thereof, release means comprising a horizontal spring acting in opposition to said piston compressed between said support and said live lever intermediate the ends thereof, another release spring acting substantially in parallel with said firstmentioned spring and compressed between said support and said dead lever adjacent said lastmentioned end thereof, and stop means inboardly of said live lever adjacent said lastmentioned end thereof adapted for abutment with said live lever to limit release movement of said levers.

4. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck comprising a frame and a supporting wheel and axle assembly, a brake disk rotatable with said assembly, live and dead operatively interconnected truck levers disposed at opposite sides of said disk, a brake frame slidably supporting saidlive lever, pivot means interconnecting said dead lever intermediate the ends thereof with said brake frame, friction means carried by said levers for engagement with said disk, actuating means for said levers operatively connected to said live lever intermediate the ends thereof, and release means for releasing said friction means from said disk comprising spring means compressed between said support and said live lever and acting in opposition to said actuating means.

5. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck comprising a frame with a transverse member and a wheel and axle assembly disposed at one side of said member, said wheel and axle assembly including an axle and a wheel adjacent each end of said axle, a brake disk adjacent each wheel rotatable with said assembly, live and dead levers disposed at opposite sides of each disk, power means carried by said member intermediate the ends thereof, a stator carried by each lever at one end for engagement with the adjacent side of the associated disk, means operatively connecting the opposite ends of adjacent levers, said power device comprising a cylinder with a piston at each end thereof, and an operative connection between each piston and the `adjacent live truck lever.

6. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck comprising a frame and a supporting wheel and axle assembly, a brake disk carried by said assembly, a support connected to the frame, a live lever slidably supported by said support at one side of said disk, a dead lever at the opposite side ol' the disk connected intermediate its ends to said support, stators at opposite sides of said disk for engagement therewith and connected to adjacent ends of respective levers, a compression member' interconnecting the opposite ends of said levers, and a power cylinder carried by said frame for actuating said levers and including a piston having a nose extending into a pocket in said live lever intermediate the ends thereof.

7. In a brake arrangement, a support, live and dead levers interconnected at one end, actuating means for said levers operatively associated with said live lever, spaced abutment means at said one end of said levers receiving the same therebetween, resilient means acting in opposition to said actuating means and reacting between said one end of the dead lever and the adjacent abutment means for shifting said levers when in released condition to a position engaging said one end of the live lever with the abutment means thereadjacent.

8. In a brake arrangement for a rotatable assembly having a pair of friction surfaces extending generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said assembly, a live lever disposed adjacent one surface, a dead lever disposed adjacent the other surface, a support structure slidably supporting said live lever, means pivotally connecting said dead lever intermediate the ends thereof with lsaid structure, a link interconnecting said levers at one end, friction means connected to the other ends of said levers for cooperation with respective surfaces, and actuating means for said levers connected to said live lever intermediate the ends thereof.

9. In a brake arrangement for a rotatable assembly including a brake rotor, oppositely arranged, substantially norizontal, operatively interconnected live and dead levers positioned at opposite sides of said rotor, stators carried by each lever for engagement with said rotor, and power means for actuating said levers to apply J fs'ad Sttols against said rotor and comprising a 'piston Operating horizontally transversely of said levers, and actuating means operatively Jeon- -nected lto said live vlever .intermediate tlie -ends "thereof,

:1;1.;In a brake arrangement, :a support structure, a rotatable Vassembly, 'and 'brake irneans .associated with 'saidfassembly for fbraking coopera- `ltion `therewith "and comprising `a Alive -slever supported Yon--said structure vfor movement toward land away from said assembly, .friction means .pivotallyconnected'at one .point Yto fsaid lever -for engaging one side-'of "said assembly, a'secondJfr-ic- `tion :means adapted for engagement V,with .the opposite side of said assemblyfand,operatively 'con- -nected to said -live lever at anotherpoinnand a -'power device for said -brake means acting onsaid Jive lever intermediate :said points.

12. :A brake support structure comprising a substantially vertical walllat one end vand spaced :substantially fhorizon'tal topv and bottom walls Vintegral with 'said r'st-mention'ed wall and extending transversely thereof,xa .spring seat wall bey'tv/'een lsaid vtop :and 4bottom 'walls integral there- 4with A'and `spaced =longitudinal1y of said structure Yfrom said virstmentioned 'rv/al1, and lever 4.guide Ifmeans on adjacent sides foflsaid 'top and bottom walls adjacent eaeh extremity vthereof.

13. In a brake arrangementibrake rigging including live fand :dead levers pivotailyv intercon- Ynected at certain of their ends, supportvmeans for said levers, release means for said :levers .comprising springmeans interposed and reacting between said support means vand .said dead lever, said spring means Ibeing operative to ymove said dead lever to :release position thereof f and lto .urge

said live lever to Yengage said Asupport means, said "spring means vbeing operative .to restrain :free -movement of the rigging.

opposition to .said ,power means, further release .means acting between said second.'mentioned abutment means .and-said dead .lever vopposition vkto ,said .power means, and stop means fout- Ywardly of said live lever for :abutment withtsaid .live-lever for :limiting movement :of said :levers :by

-said further release-means.

WESLEY A. .Hens-TEN.

`References Cited in the Vile 'of `this ,patent UNITED V,STATES f A'I'Eivfrs Number "Name 'Da'te 1,699,659 Fagan Jan. 22, 1929 2,174,898 'Farmer Sept. 26, 1939 2,211,388 Farmer -Aug.20,f1940 "2,3483'0'7'8 Ledwinka May`2, 1f944 v2,385,309 Spencer Sept. 18, 1945 2,423;694 'Eksergian July-8,1194? 2,447,244 :Gaenss'le -Aug 17,1948

.FOREIGN nPATENTS 4Number .Country Date 2569-374 iGreatizBrita'in A Magri-2251945 

